Theater Spotlight: Kaukauna goes Grimm

'The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon' plays at Kaukauna High School Thursday through Saturday.

What: Kaukauna High School presents the play "The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon"

When: 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday

Where: Bernie Hupperts Center for the Performing Arts at Kaukauna High School, 1701 County CE, Kaukauna

Admission: $8 adults, $5 students and senior citizens. Tickets are available for purchase at the box office one hour before each performance.

Background: The show combines all 209 of the fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm into one madcap comedy. It answers questions including, "Who is the Frog Prince, exactly?" and "How did Rapunzel's hair get so long?"

What they're saying: Director Kathleen McCurdy said the students were ready to stage a comedy like this one after a few years of performing heavier material.

"This particular play, with its loose, campy style, allows for a lot of improvisation and unique interpretation from the students," she said. "It has been so much fun for me to help them take their ideas to a new level and to watch as they work together, trying different acting choices daily."

Senior Brett Luedke, 18, said the show appeals to audiences because of its humor and multiple acting styles.

Junior Alexis Raatz, 16, said even though the play may not be a familiar one to some, the stories are classics.

"Not everyone knows what 'The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon' is, but what they do know is all the fairy tales involved in it," Raatz said.

Take-home message: Expect 90 minutes of pure fun, McCurdy said.

"It's all about entertainment and laughter," she said. "The audience is treated as though they are part of the production and 'in on' the jokes, which is made easy because all of the characters are well known. The play begs one to question the 'back stories' of Snow White, Rapunzel, Rumpelstiltskin and so many more."